Machine for molding batter

ABSTRACT

A machine for dispensing multiple uniformly molded portions of batter formed to have a circular shape with a central depression, is disclosed. A forcing unit is hydraulically driven downward against a feed member to have batter applied to a baking sheet in the desired form. The forcing unit includes a plurality of operatively ganged piston-cylinder components which serve to force measured portions of batter through a funnel element supported on a measuring plate of the feed member. An elevating pedestal serves to situate the baking sheet in close proximity beneath the feed member to receive the batter that is driven through the respective funnels by the forcing unit.

United States Patent [1 1 Seu MACHINE FOR MOLDING BATTER Lindow Seu, 1144 Coronado Ter., Los Angeles, Calif. 90026 Filed: Mar. 30, 1972 Appl.No.1 239,591

Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l0/1893 Demerath 222/3307/1959 Jahn 222/486 X 6/1938 Reinecke 222/189 X 5/1938 Brandt 222/330Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. KocovskyAttorney-Harold L. Jackson et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A machine for dispensing multiple uniformly moldedportions of batter formed to have a circular shape with a centraldepression, is disclosed. A forcing unit is hydraulically drivendownward against a feed member to have batter applied to a baking sheetin the desired form. The forcing unit includes a plurality ofoperatively ganged piston-cylinder components which serve to forcemeasured portions of batter through a funnel element supported on ameasuring plate of the feed member. An elevating pedestal serves tosituate the baking sheet in close proximity beneath the feed member toreceive the batter that is driven through the respective funnels by theforcing unit.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 MACHINE FORMOLDING BA'ITER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention generally relatesto machines for dispensing batter. More Specifically, the presentinvention concerns a machine for simultaneously forming and applyingmultiple uniform portions of batter to a baking sheet to form cookieshaving a circular shape with a central depression.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many batter dispensing devices areavailable in the prior art. Such devices have long been used tomechanically dispense batter or other viscous substances. For example,such prior art devices have been used in the baking of cookies as wellas the preparation of doughnuts and other bakery products.

A common mechanical arrangement for a prior art dispensing deviceinvolves a cylinder in which batter is contained. A manually operatedplunger is situated within, and at one end of, the cylinder to be urgedtowards the other end thereof to displace batter contained in thecylinder. A die or template may be used to lend a desired fancifulshape, such as the silhoutte of an animal or a geometric design, to thedispensed portions of batter. In many cases, the template is removable,or movable, to permit templates for different designs to be used withthe dispenser.

Despite the availability of such prior art devices, there still remainsa lack of dispensers for automatically placing onto a baking sheetmultiple identical portions of batter having a circular shape and acentrally located depression, as is characteristic of the familiaralmond cookies.

Such almond cookies, for example, are known to be commonly prepared byhaving the batter manually rolled into balls and placed on abakingsheet. The balls are then flattened and provided with a'centraldepression by hand. Uniformity in the volume of each portion isprimarily achieved, if at all, by human approximation. Clearly,significant numbers of man-hours are required to prepare such almondcookies in the described manner.

It is accordingly the intention of the present invention to provide adevice by which a plurality of identical portions of batter havingacircular shape'with' a central depression can be quickly and efficientlyapplied to a baking sheet with a minimum of human labor such thatsubstantial reductions in labor force, time of preparation, and expensecan be provided in'the preparationof certain cookies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present inventioninvolves a machine for dispensing multiple uniform portions of batterhaving a circular shape with a central depres- More particularly, thesubject batter dispensing machine includes a feed member including aplurality of funnels extending through, and supported on, a measuringplate. A forcing unit serves to displace measured portions of batterthrough each of the funnels of the feed member. The forcing unit ismovably supported on a pair of horizontal rails 'to permit lateralmovement such that the forcing unit may be superimposed with, or movedaway from, the feed member to permit the placement and replacement ofbatter thereon preparatory to each dispensing of batter. The forcingunit includes a plurality of cylinders maintained beneath a supportingplate. Each cylinder is provided with one of an equal number of pistonswhich are secured by a'piston rod to a drive'plate. A hydraulicallyoperated ram, or the like, is connected to initially move the entireforcing unit, and finally the respective pistons, downward against thefeed member to force batter through each of the funnels of the feedmember. A baking sheet is placed in predetermined proximity to theunderside of the feed member, to receive dispensed batter, by a pedestalwhich is adapted to be elevated or lowered between set positions tofacilitate placement and removal of baking sheets.

The objects and many attandant advantages of the invention will be morereadily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by referenceto the following detailed description which is to be considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference symbolsdesignate like parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagramillustrating a perspective view of a machine for dispensing batter inaccordance with the'present' invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a top plan view of themachine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a side elev vation view ofthe machines shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a partially fragmented,cross-sectional side view of a single funnel included on the feed memberwhich is useable with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary funnel screenthat may be used in conjunction with a funnel as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a achematic diagram illustrating a partially fragmented,cross-sectional side view of a single cylinder and piston combinationwhich is useable with the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENT I Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a dispensing machine inaccordance with the present invention primarily involves a feed member10, a forcing unit 12 and a raisable pedestal 14.

The feed member 10 includes a flat measuring plate 16 having a pluralityof apertures which are sized to each receive a funnel 18. The funnels 18may be arranged on the measuring plate 16 as a rectangular matrix, asshown, and may be appropriately retained in the respective apertures ofthe measuring plates 16 such as by the use of a plurality of securingstraps, an overlay, or the like.

The measuring plate 16 is provided with a rim 19 that is positionedabout the periphery thereof. The rim 19 is of a preselectedwidth orheight corresponding to a desired thickness of batter to be positionedon the measuring plate. 16 preparatory to the batter being dis pensed asis explained in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring briefly to FIG. 4, each of the funnels 18 may have adownwardly extending nozzle or oriface 20 and an upper flange portion 21that is supported on, or by, the measuring plate 16. A screen member 22is positioned to cover the upper opening of each of the funnels 18. Asshown by FIG. 5, each of the screen members 22 may basically include aflat ring in the center of which is retained a screened portion 23having a suitable gage. As an example, the gate of screen typically usedfor covering windows and doors of buildings would be suitable.

Referring once again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the feed member is retained ina raised position by being securely supported between the legs of one ofa pair of arches 24 and 25. As shown, a pair of brackets 26 may beaffixed on the respective legs of the arch 24 in a horizontal planecommon to both brackets 26. Each of the brackets 26 may, for example,have a transverse C configuration which would permit a feed member 10 tobe laterally slid between the brackets 26 and retained thereby in afixed vertical position. Where desired, a suitable locking mechanism(not shown) may be provided on each of the brackets 26 to secure thefeed member 10. l

The arches 24 and 25 serve to support a pair of spaced horizontallyoriented rails 28. These rails 28 serve as a support and guide for theforcing unit 12 and function as the means by which the forcing unit 12may be laterally moved into, and from, vertical superimposed alignmentwith the feed member 10.

The forcing unit 12 includes a supporting plate 30 and a drive plate 32.The supporting plate 30 is adapted to have a plurality of apertures inthe same arrangement as the apertures on the measuring plate 16. Therespective apertures on both of the plates 16 and 30 are placed to havethe centers thereof in vertical alignment when the forcing unit 12 andthe feed member 10 are in vertical alignment. Each of the apertures ofthe supporting plate 30 permits passage of a piston rod 34 therethrough.As shown in greater detail by FIG. 6, each piston rod 34 is connected atan upper end to the drive plate 32 and is secured to a piston 36 at thelower end thereof. A cylinder 38 is appropriately secured to the undersurface of the supporting plate 30 in a position concentric with therespective apertures of the supporting plate 30 through which the pistonrods 34 are extended. A separating spring 40 may be placed aboutselected ones, or all, of the piston rods 34 and be tween the supportingplate 30 and the drive plate 32 to urge ambient separation thereof. Avent hole 39 may be provided in the wall of each cylinder 38 in'theupper regions thereof to facilitate the cylinders 38 being applied to alayer of batter. Also, the walls of the cylinders 38 are preferably thinfor this purpose;

The pistons 36 are accordingly positioned to be driven downwardly forthe length of the cylinders 38 by compression or closure of the distancebetween the supporting plate 30 and the drive plate 32. Closure of thedistance between the plates 30 and 32 would re-' quire force sufficientto counter the force of the plurality of separating springs 40 which areconcentrically situated about the selected number of piston rods 34.Clearly, the number of separating springs 40 that are employed woulddepend on the relative spring constants of the springs 40, the weight ofthe plate 32, the viscosity of batter to be processed, etc.

The forcing unit 12 is supported from the rails 28 by means of anysuitable suspending mechanism. As illustrated, a simple suspendingmechanism may involve a movable support carriage 42 extending across andmovably retained on the rails 28. A suspension post 44 may extendthrough the support carriage 42 and be connected to a securing plate 46at a lower end of the post 44. The securing plate 46 is attached to theupper surface of the drive plate 32.

In the present instance, the suspension post 44 may be the extensiblemember of a hydraulic ram 48, the outer housing of which is supportedatop the supporting carriage 42. Any conventional hydraulic controlsystem (not shown) may be used to control the ram 48. The suspensionpost 44 is situated to be vertically extended and retracted torespectively lower and raise the forcing unit 42.

The support carriage 42 may be fashioned in any desired configurationand may be equipped with roller bearings, or the like, to facilitatelateral movement along the rails 28. Similarly, any conventional type ofrails may be used to permit easy lateral displacement of the carriage42.

As illustrated, the arches 24 and 25 should be appropriately spaced topermit the forcing unit 12 to be moved laterally away from the feedmember 10 at one extreme (towards the arch 25) and moved into verticalalignment at the other extreme (towards the arch 24).

The pedestal 14 is adapted to be raised and lowered by any suitablemeans such as, for example, by being supported on a centrally locatedcolumn 50 having a concentric biasing spring 52 which serves to urge thepedestal l4 upwardly from a pedestal base 53. The undersurface of thepedestal 14 may also be provided with folding support arms 54 which aresuitably provided with detents, or the like, such that the pedestal 14may be retained in a preferred vertical position. The combination of thecolumn 50 and the spring 52 may be used in conjunction with, or asalternatives to, the folding support anns 52.

There are at least two primary positions that are preferred for thepedestal 14. The first would be a collapsed position against the base 52which would facilitate removal of a baking sheet 56, or the like, whichis placed thereon to receive dispensed batter. The second position wouldbe a raised position wherein a baking sheet 56 supported by the pedestal14 is placed in close proximity to the under side of the feed member 10to receive batter that is displaced through each of the funnels 18 byinteraction of the feed member 10 and the forcing unit 12.

Considering the operation of the subject invention, batter is initiallyplaced on the measuring plate 16 of the feed member 10 such that each ofthe funnels 18 is occupied by batter. The measuring plate 16 would alsobe uniformly covered with a layer of batter. It is noted that thethickness of the layer of batter would be a factor in determining thesize of each of the portions to be applied to a baking sheet 56. To thisend, the rim 19 of the measuring plate 16 may be provided with a widthcorresponding to a selected thickness for the layer of batter.

The forcing unit 12 is subsequently moved laterally along the rails 28from the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to be positioned in verticalalignment with the feed member 10, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 7. A bakingsheet 56 would be placed on the pedestal 14 which is then raised to itspredetermined raised position. It has been empirically determined thatthe baking sheet 56 is best maintained approximately one-half inch awayfrom the lower rim of the funnels 18 to perform the intended purpose. Itis to be understood that such spacing may be varied to accommodatedifferent sized portions of batter.

The forcing unit 12 is then lowered by operation of the hydraulic ram 48to have the lower most rim of each of the cylinders 38 cut through thelayer of batter l5 and contact the upper surface of the measuring plate16. It has been found that uniform contact of the forcing unit 12 withthefeeding member is facilitated by having the securing plate 46 looselyconnected to the end of the suspension post 44. This may beaccomplished, for example, by having the plate 46 loosely bolted to theend of the post 44. Continued operation of the ram 48 and extension ofthe suspension post 44 causes the driving plate 32 to continue downwardto have the pistons 36 contact the layer of batter to force the battercontained by the individual cylinders 38 through the respective funnels18 that are vertically aligned therewith. FIG. 8 illustrates a singlepiston of the forcing unit 12 in its final full stroke position againstthe screen member 22 covering the funnel 18.

The batter driven through each funnel 18 is received by the baking sheet56. It is believed that due to surface action of the dispensed batter, acircular shape is formed. The lower most rim of the funnel 18 causes thedispensed batter to have the central depression by being maintained inclose proximity to the baking sheet 56, as earlier pointed out.

After batter has been dispensed through the feed member 10, thehydraulic ram 48 may be operated to raise the forcing unit 12 to itsuppermost position wherein the piston 36 is retracted upwardly to itsnatural position against the under surface of the supporting plate 30and the entire forcing unit 12 is raised.

The screen member 22 convering the funnels l8 serve to permit the battercontained therein to remain within each of the funnels 18 such that areapplication of batter to the feed member 10, to a level determined byusing the rim 19 as a guide, does not require the refilling of thefunnels 18 subsequent to the first dispensing operation.

The return of the forcing unit 12 to a laterally displaced positionfacilitates a fresh supply of batter being applied to the feed member10. The pedestal 14 may be lowered to facilitate removal of the bakingsheet 56 on which portions of batter have been applied and to facilitateplacement of a fresh baking sheet.

The size of the subject machine may be varied as necessary to performthe desired and intended function.

For example, two feed members 10 and pedestals 14 may be used to havedual operation wherein the forcing unit 12 is alternately used with thepair of feed members 10 that are provided.

From the foregoing detail description it is now apparent that thesubject invention provides a machine for dispensing multiple uniformlysized portions of batter in the form of a circle having a centraldepression. It is also clear that the subject invention substantiallycon tributes to the savings in cost, time, and labor required to preparea large volume of such batter portions such as would be required in themanufacture of cookies.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been describedhereinabove, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense and that all modifications,constructions and arrangements which fall within the scope and spirit ofthe invention may be made.

1. A machine for dispensing multiple uniformly molded portions ofbatter, the machine comprising:

a feed member on which batter to be dispensed is placed in a layer, saidfeed member including a plurality of ports each formed by a downwardlyextending funnel; forcing unit for forcing batter to be dispensedthrough said funnels, said forcing unit including a supporting plate, adriving plate, and a plurality of driving means for displacing apredetermined amount of batter through each of said funnels, saiddriving means including:

a plurality of cylinders arranged on the underside of said supportingplate to correspond with said plurality of ports,

a plurality of pistons each situated in one of said cylinders,

a plurality of piston rods for connecting said pistons to said drivingplate, said piston rods extending through said supporting plate, and

spring means situated between said driving and supporting plates forurging a preselected ambient separation of said driving plate andsupporting plate wherein compression of said spring means by closure ofthe separating distance between said driving and supporting platesoperates to move said pistons through said cylinders for the lengththereof; and pedestal means for positioning apparatus, for receivingdispensed batter, beneath said feed member in predetermined proximity tothe lowermost portion of said funnels.

2. The machine defined by claim 1, said feed member including:

a flat plate having said plurality of ports, said funnels being fastenedto said flat plate to extend downwardly therefrom; and

an upstanding rim situated about the periphery of said flat plate, saidrim serving as a guide for determining the thickness of a layer ofbatter placed on said flat plate.

3. The machine defined by claim 2, said feed member further includingscreen elements situated on said ports, said screen elements permittingbatter to be being supported in an elevated position by said railsupport means; and

carriage means for suspending said forcing unit from said guide rails toallow lateral movement along said guide rails to be placed in verticalalignment with, and above, said feed member.

6. The machine defined by claim 1, said forcing unit further includinghydraulic means for moving said driving means downward to contact saidfeed member wherein the batter contained by each of said cylinders isdisplaced through said funnels of said feed member.

7. The machine defined by claim 6, said hydraulic means including anextendable member which is connected at a leading end to said drivingplate to provide upward and downward movement of said driving means andsaid driving and supporting plates in response to extension andretraction, respectfully, of said extendable member of said hydraulicram.

8. The machine defined by claim 7 further including:

a pair of parallel rails;

rail support means for supporting said parallel rails in an elevatedhorizontal position, said feed member being supported in an elevatedposition by said rail support means;

carriage means movably mounted on said parallel rails to permit lateralmovement along said rails, said forcing unit being supported from saidcarriage means for being moved into and from vertical alignment abovesaid feed member, said hydraulic ram being mounted on said carriage tohave said extendable member thereof adapted to be downwardly extended byoperation of said hydraulic ram.

9. The machine defined by claim 8, said feed member including:

a flat plate having said plurality of ports, said funnels being fastenedto said flat plate to extend downwardly therefrom; and

an upstanding rim situated about the periphery of said flat plate, saidrim serving as a guide for determining the thickness of a layer ofbatter placed on said flat plate.

10. The machine defined by claim 9, said feed member further includingscreen elements situated on said ports, said screen elements permittingbatter to be forced therethrough to be displaced through said funnelsand preventing batter from being retracted from said funnel.

11. The machine defined by claim 10, said pedestal means includingpositioning means for vertically moving said pedestal to and from saidpredetermined proximity to the lowermost portion of said funnels.

1. A machine for dispensing multiple uniformly molded portions ofbatter, the machine comprising: a feed member on which batter to bedispensed is placed in a layer, said feed member including a pluralityof ports each formed by a downwardly extending funnel; a forcing unitfor forcing batter to be dispensed through said funnels, said forcingunit including a supporting plate, a driving plate, and a plurality ofdriving means for displacing a predetermined amount of batter througheach of said funnels, said driving means including: a plurality ofcylinders arranged on the underside of said supporting plate tocorrespond with said plurality of ports, a plurality of pistons eachsituated in one of said cylinders, a plurality of piston rods forconnecting said pistons to said driving plate, said piston rodsextending through said supporting plate, and spring means situatedbetween said driving and supporting plates for urging a preselectedambient separation of said driving plate and supporting plate whereincompression of said spring means by closure of the separating distancebetween said driving and supporting plates operates to move said pistonsthrough said cylinders for the length thereof; and pedestal means forpositioning apparatus, for receiving dispensed batter, beneath said feedmember in predetermined proximity to the lowermost portion of saidfunnels.
 2. The machine defined by claim 1, said feed member including:a flat plate having said plurality of ports, said funnels being fastenedto said flat plate to extend downwardly therefrom; and an upstandinG rimsituated about the periphery of said flat plate, said rim serving as aguide for determining the thickness of a layer of batter placed on saidflat plate.
 3. The machine defined by claim 2, said feed member furtherincluding screen elements situated on said ports, said screen elementspermitting batter to be forced therethrough to be displaced through saidfunnels and preventing batter from being retracted from said funnel. 4.The machine defined by claim 1, said pedestal means includingpositioning means for vertically moving said pedestal to and from saidpredetermined proximity to the lowermost portion of said funnels.
 5. Themachine defined by claim 1 further including: a pair of parallel guiderails; rail support means for supporting said guide rails in an elevatedhorizontal position, said feed member being supported in an elevatedposition by said rail support means; and carriage means for suspendingsaid forcing unit from said guide rails to allow lateral movement alongsaid guide rails to be placed in vertical alignment with, and above,said feed member.
 6. The machine defined by claim 1, said forcing unitfurther including hydraulic means for moving said driving means downwardto contact said feed member wherein the batter contained by each of saidcylinders is displaced through said funnels of said feed member.
 7. Themachine defined by claim 6, said hydraulic means including an extendablemember which is connected at a leading end to said driving plate toprovide upward and downward movement of said driving means and saiddriving and supporting plates in response to extension and retraction,respectfully, of said extendable member of said hydraulic ram.
 8. Themachine defined by claim 7 further including: a pair of parallel rails;rail support means for supporting said parallel rails in an elevatedhorizontal position, said feed member being supported in an elevatedposition by said rail support means; carriage means movably mounted onsaid parallel rails to permit lateral movement along said rails, saidforcing unit being supported from said carriage means for being movedinto and from vertical alignment above said feed member, said hydraulicram being mounted on said carriage to have said extendable memberthereof adapted to be downwardly extended by operation of said hydraulicram.
 9. The machine defined by claim 8, said feed member including: aflat plate having said plurality of ports, said funnels being fastenedto said flat plate to extend downwardly therefrom; and an upstanding rimsituated about the periphery of said flat plate, said rim serving as aguide for determining the thickness of a layer of batter placed on saidflat plate.
 10. The machine defined by claim 9, said feed member furtherincluding screen elements situated on said ports, said screen elementspermitting batter to be forced therethrough to be displaced through saidfunnels and preventing batter from being retracted from said funnel. 11.The machine defined by claim 10, said pedestal means includingpositioning means for vertically moving said pedestal to and from saidpredetermined proximity to the lowermost portion of said funnels.